lucas



(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 1.

O. H. LUCAS.

DEVIGE FOR FITTING HAIR SPRINGS TO WATCHES. No. 278,347. I Patented May 29,1883.

(No ModeL) 2 sheets-slhet 2.

G. H. LUCAS. DEVICE FOR FITTING HAIR SPRINGS T0 WATCHES.

No. 278347. Patented May 29,1883.-

n. PETEflS. PhawLilhngnpher. Washi nnnnnnnn c A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. LUCAS, OF CANTON, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO WALTER W. OHAFFIN, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR FITTING- HAIR-SPRINGS TO WATOHE S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,347, dated May 29, 1883,

Application filed January 27,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Lucas, of Canton, in the county of Oxford and State of Maine, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Fitting Hair- Springs to Watches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure '1. is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the bedplate recess and mirror. Fig. 4 is a view of the vertical center, with its jaw to grasp the spring. Fig. 5 is a top view of the same in part section. Fig. 6 shows a vertical section of the concave point of the vertical center. Fig. 7 isa top view of the device for holding the regulator-pins. Fig. 8 is a side view of same.

Sa'me letters show like parts.

My invention relates to machines for putting hair-springs into watches and chronometers.

It consists, first, in the combination of a socket on the bed-plate, an upright rod, 2. horizontal slide-rod, certain jaws, a vertical center, a clamp, a bed-plate, and a mirror, as hereinafter described; second, of avertical center, 1), having one end pointed and the other concave,'as herein set forth; third, in the combination of a vertical center, 1), block, sliding rod, pins, and set-screw, as hereinafter described; fourth, in combination with the vertical rod j, a horizontal rod, asocket, set-screw, and a bristle, arranged and operating as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, 66 shows the bed-plate ofmy machine. b shows the movable jaws. c is a recess inthe bed-plate, into which is set the mirror 01. The jaws b are set upon posts e, which are heldin position by the nuts f on the under side of the bed-plate. The jaws b can be turned around in horizontal planes on the posts 6. These jaws b are operated by thumb-screws g in closing. They can be operated by springs, if desired. They are to hold the movement, of the watch while the hair-spring is adjusted, as will be hereinafter described. Thebed-plate is circular, and is supported by legs h. To the bed-plate is attached a socket, i, through whichslides an up right rod, j. The rodj is held in place by the set-screw it, working through the socket-piece t On the top of the rodj is a head, 1, having an adjusting set-screw,m, and through the head slides the horizontal slide-rod a. This sliderod n is adj ustable at any point along its length by the adjusting set-screw 122. On the outer end of the horizontal slide-rod n is a head, 0, through which works the vertical center p. When adjusted the center 12 is held in place by the set-screw q. The vertical center 12 has one end pointed and the other concaved or hollowed out, as seen in Fig. 6. At or near the lower end of the vertical center slides a block, 1, which has a set-screw, s, to hold the block atany point on the vertical center. To this block 1' is attached a small clamp, t This clamp is to grasp the outer coil of the hairspring when the same is being put in'and adjusted. .The clamp t is hung on the horizontal pin aand'held by the screw s. On the vertical center, below the block 1', is another block, r This block has the sliding rod w,,which carries two pins, now. These pins serve the purpose of regulator-pins in the watch while the hairsprin g is being tested and adjusted by my device. The block '0 is held in its position by the set-screw y, Fig.8. The clamp t, for grasping the outer coil of the hair-spring, is operated by the set-screw 2. On the upright rod j is a socket, a, through which passes the horizontal arm I). This arm b has at the outer end a hole or slit, into .which is inserted a bristle, c. The arm'b is held in its place by a set-screw, cl. i

The manner of using my device is as follows: Take out the, movement from the watch-case. remove the balance bridge and balance, and then place the movement in the jaws!) in such a way that the seconds-dial can be clearly seen in the mirrord. Then adjust the horizontal slide-rod a and the vertical center p so that the point of the centerp will come in the lower jewel-hole of the watch. Now select a hairspring such as the operator thinks will suit the watch and bring it to-time. Then fasten the spring to the balance-staff or balance-arm without pinning it to the collet or removing any of the inner coils. It may be fastened by means of a spring on the stump, or with wax or any slightly-adhesive substance that will hold it long enough to test the hair-spring. Then set the balance in the watch and bring the vertical center 11 down onto the top pivot .withtheconcavepointdownward. Gareshould be exercised to have the balance in an upright position and perfectly free to make its vibrations. Then grasp the outer coil with the clamp t, moving at the same time the block 1", that carries the pin a, on which is placed the clamp t, in order to put the watch in beat. Then wind up the watch sufficiently to give a good motion to the balance. If, then, it is found by comparison with the chronometer or regu later that the watch loses, grasp it with the clamp t in another place farther in on the coil, andagain test it. Care must be used not to cut down the hair-spring to too small a diameter. If the watch gains on the first trial, or on the trial of the first hair-spring, then select a weaker spring and test as above described.

Bring the regulator-pins mof the device as nearly into the same position as those on the watch as is possible. Byrepeatin g these tests until the seconds-hand is found to conform to the operators regulator or standard the hairspring can be set and adjusted.

secure by Letters Patent of the United States.

1. In combination with the plate a and mir-' ror d, the jaws I), the upright rodj, horizontal slide-rod a, vertical center 1), and clamp 25, as herein set forth.

2. In combination with the vertical slide-rod p, the block 4*, sliding rod to, pins as w, and setscrew 11 as herein set forth.

3. In combination with the vertical rod j, the horizontal rod b, socket a, set-screw d, and bristle c, all as herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. LUCAS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM HENRY CLIFF RD, JO N P. KERRIGAN. 

